Halloween is a holiday fun for kids and adults alike. No matter what age group, there are activities for everyone from the end of September through October 31. Springfield serves as the center of attention in southwest Missouri, but outlying towns also have fun times in store for young and old.
Corn Mazes
As an agricultural state, Missouri has plenty of corn mazes through which kids frolic. The closest one to Springfield is Campbell’s Maze Daze in between Nixa and Clever. Hours are Friday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m. Adults and kids are $8 each to explore the corn maze. Pony rides and a haunted hayride is extra. Campbell’s is located off Carob Road, four miles east of Highway N south of Nixa. Campbell’s is a huge place that allows kids to pick pumpkins straight off the vine from the nearby orchard. There is plenty of food to buy at the concession stand as well.
Marshfield boasts Hampton’s Greenhouse and Corn Maze northeast of Springfield. This year, a Noah’s Ark theme awaits kids who explore the maze. The greenhouse is 8.5 miles west of Marshfield on Highway 38, which motorists can get to from Exit 100 along Interstate 44. The general public is invited from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Kids and adults ages 12 and over need $7.50 to get in. Kids ages 5 to 11 are $6.
Pumpkin Patch
McKenna Family Farm outside Branson is open seve days a week for schools and families to pick pumpkins. Monday through Thursday, the farm is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday admission hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Activities include a hayride, hay bale maze and a two-acre corn maze. Everyone gets in for $6.50. Seniors are $3. The farm is located at 3265 State Highway F in Branson.
Haunted Houses
Hotel of Terror is one of Springfield’s oldest haunted houses. In the early days of the city, the structure at 334 N. Main Ave. was a working hotel. Ever since 1978, the Hotel of Terror has been frightening patrons on a nightly basis in October. Sunday through Thursday, admission is $11. On Friday and Saturday, it costs $13. Movies are shown outside while people wait in line. Doors open at 7 p.m. On weekday nights, doors close around 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, doors shut around midnight.
Dickerson Park Zoo’s Spooktacular begins Oct. 19 through Oct. 31. Every night, volunteers give candy to kids from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. after dark. Take strollers for little kids and dress appropriately. There is plenty of candy, but my suggestion is to get there early to beat the crowds later in the evening. Admission is $7 per person at the door or $6 in advance.
